New Water Supply Network Inaugurated in Zabul with UNICEF Support
A new water supply network has been constructed and launched in Loy Kariz village of Arghandab district, Zabul province, at a cost of over six million afghanis. The project was implemented with financial support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and technical assistance from the local development council.
According to the Department of Rural Rehabilitation and Development in Zabul, which operates under the Taliban administration, the network has a storage capacity of 60,000 liters and is powered by 27 solar panels. The department reports that the project has provided access to safe drinking water for 123 families in the village.
Despite growing challenges in healthcare and public services in remote areas, the provision of water resources for local residents is seen as a positive step. However, concerns persist about the efficiency, budget transparency, and oversight of such projects under the unilateral and closed governance of the Taliban.
Previously, lack of access to potable water in many districts of Zabul and other southern regions of Afghanistan has been one of the major challenges in service delivery. The role of international organizations like UNICEF, despite significant operating restrictions, remains pivotal in meeting basic humanitarian needs and highlights the widespread shortcomings of state institutions under Taliban control.
